Sucking the
life from their victims, devouring the eggs, eating the young; you don't
have to go to Africa to see it! You can explore the predator/prey interactions
that monarchs face in your own backyard. You'll be amazed at what you
see.

The adult
tachinid fly lays its eggs on monarch larvae--and the young flies develop
inside. Just before my monarch caterpillar became a chrysalis, the fly
larvae emerged from its body. I knew they were alive and was curious,
so I kept them. Within a few days, the larvae developed into adult flies
. . .

Not as nice
as raising monarchs, maybe, but fascinating.

Try
This!

Can you
draw the life cycle of both monarch and tachinid fly? Read the text
about the tachinid cycle above carefully, and draw from your knowledge
about the monarch life cycle.

National
Science Education Standards

Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending
on the questions they are trying to answer. (K-4)

Plants and animals have life cycles that include being
born, developing into adults, reproducing, and eventually dying. The
details of this life cycle are different for different organisms. (K-4)